Well I received my rejection on my appeal and now must file for a hearing. This time at least they did acknowledge that I did have several disabilities, but because I am soooo young (ha) 37, there were thousands of jobs nationwide I could do. Well first of all I have a brain injury that causes short term memory and cognitive issues, cannot work well with groups due to great anxiety, and have chronic pain and during a bad flare can be mostly bedridden for weeks at a time. Of course if you start to have a conversation it begins to become apparent that there are problems when I call objects the wrong name or reach for something and miss it completely. Right now I am having a blessed 6 weeks of relative relief but still no improvement in cognitive abilities. It is frustrating to have a disability that you cannot see, and the only time you can see the physical effects are when I go through a bad cycle and use a cane and must sleep for hours on end day and night to be able to function. I am unable to live alone b/c I forget to eat or take meds, but my age is what is killing my chances according to SSD. I did get retirement disability from the state ( I was a teacher), because my IQ dropped 27 points based on my second grade IQ test and testing 30 years later after almost completing the hours necessary for a PhD in education. Sadly I am what is called a high functioning tbi survivor with most long term memory intact, but unable to learn new skills and function in a group setting or do more than one thing at a time without severe anxiety and confusion and emotional outbursts.....SIGH. Words of wisdom? Words of suggestion? Thanks, Mim Gregg

You need to hire an attorney who specializes in handling ONLY Social Security Disablity cases. Check your local Yellow Pages, your *local* newspaper and/or the net for one. Do not get the ones who advertises on TV.
Another source is your *local* Social Security Disability Office. They have a list of them.

Good luck! :angel:

I do have a lawyer and am taking him the papers this Wednesday. It is just frustrating. I was hoping that there might be other folks out there with "mild" tbi that does not allow them to work that could respond with suggestions or how they were able to navigate the bs we seem to be put through to claim what we have paid in. I have worked since I was 14 (got a work permit) and have paid in til I was forced to quit working due to my accident. Thanks, MimGregg

mimgreg,

Ive applied for SSD, 3 times, in 6 years, I have been turned down all 3 times, yes Im disabled I dont want to be (( but, I am< thats the hand I got dealt with in this life ((.
The last time I applied they called me in [ I applied over the phone']. I never leave my home, excpet to see my Doctors or go to the hospital.

The SSD sent me to their so called Shrink, to see if I have all my marbles, he asked me what comes to mind when I hear this statement,

"Strike while the iron is hot", I said "the steel is ready to be molded",
he then asked me what comes next after a series of numbers, example, 2, 4, 6, 8, ?

then he asked me "why I think I cant work"? I let him hear it all.
Then they {SS OFFICE} sent me to an MD, he asked me to, touch my toes, then my nose.
That was about it .

I got my denial letter , the SS office told me to 'get a job bending and stooping!'
I contacted a lawyer, after I got my DENIAL letter she said seeing how I dont have ,'half my brain cut out', I havent a chance in he-- of getting SSD.
So, Im in between "a rock and a hard place" with SS.

Ive got a good home, family, Im married , Im honest, always have been, Ive always done 'the right thing'. I got a few diseases and that why I cannot work. I dint plan to get sick (( NO one plans to get sick! No one wants to be ill! Why cant I have what is rightfully mine? Why cant I get the 146 thousand dollars Ive earned in my lifetime back? its mine. Ive earned it. No one else.

jmho
The older disabled people, get awarded quicker, Divorced people are awarded quicker, homeless people, are awarded quicker, if a dependant/dependants is living with you, they get awarded quicker.
If there is a true hardship those cases get the SSD or SSDI.

My Internist told them I was not able to work and the SS office went over his head.

its not fair (( not fair ((

Thanks for reading my rant! :blob_fire :blob_fire :blob_fire :blob_fire :blob_fire
good luck!

I contacted a lawyer, after I got my DENIAL letter she said seeing how I dont have ,'half my brain cut out', I havent a chance in he-- of getting SSD.
Was this a Social Security Attorney that said this? :eek:
Asking because, you could have filed an appeal which is called a Reconsideration which you *do not need an attorney for.* If the Reconsideration is denied, then you could have filed for an ALJ hearing. This is when most people hire the attorney.
Your chances of winning are usually pretty high at the hearing level especially if you have an attorney.

Suggest you check out the SSD website if you haven't already done so:

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/

Sounds like you have been through a lot, too. I have an internist that was actually the wc doc who was honest and stated what damage he could actually see with just xrays of my neck and the lack of movement in my neck, shoulders, and arm and hip at the time and after months of therapy, and a neurologist, neuropsych testing, psychotherapist, and eventually psychiatrist, mri, nerve studies, bone scans, etc....they all agree I am one banged up person. Brain cells cannot always make new connections when there is a mass of damage in areas. SOME new connections can be trained, but that would take getting actual specialist care of which is 2 hours away and oh by the way who is going to pay since no one can agree on who should pay me so no one has since 10/05. If my mom had not taught me at a young age to always be financially independent, I would be homeless right now. I am a single mother, and divorced, with 10 certified diagnoses according to the SS blue book that should qualify me. If I don't get it, my brand new (at least something good is going on!!!!) fiancee said not to worry about it. We would get by. I guess it is the principle of it all. And the fact that my son is not receiving his benefits that he is entitled to as the child of a disabled parent. Fortunately my state retirement system has retired me early on disability as they realize I am a liability in the classroom in my condition. Of course the school superintendent has made sure that LTD has not paid, WC did not b/c she told them I had been in a wreck and the fall that was witnessed by 34 people did not cause my injuries (finally settled for medical and enough to pay off the initial loan I took out to live on), AND did not turn in my correct paperwork so I still have not received any $ from the one agency that has declared me disabled. I am patiently waiting for God to do vengeance on her while I try to find it in my heart to forgive her for being such an arrogant, hateful, biddy. SS stated that did not mean I could not be retrained. HHHHHMMM, anyone know how to retrain someone that has to sleep when the neurofatigue comes out of nowhere, or when a panic attack hits, or does not require working with the putblic, or will show me over and over and over one step at a time since my short term memory is terrible and cognitively I have the attention span of a 2 year old if any stimuli is in the environment. My son's newest term to explain me to his friends is "she's just so random", he tries to make my strangeness/uniqueness cool sounding even though when we are alone together he thinks it just stinks. I gave my lawyer the papers, and his assistant called to tell me to go to SS and fill out a request for a hearing. I swear, even they don't get it. After I make the drive there, sit for hours, get the papers, I can't make heads or tails of what I am doing. I constantly have to go ask for help, then often am put back in a waiting line, at which time a panic attack begins b/c I am overwhelmed. I think maybe I just need to have a melt down and just not worry about it. Maybe then the SS system will at least get a clue as to how I might look ok, but geez, guess I have some problems. It does not help that I am trying to quit smoking for my health, and the happiness of my son. Thanks for letting me vent, I guess that is what this board is for also!
MimGregg

Am I wrong in thinking that teachers dont pay into SS ?Im pretty sure that they pay into a separate insurance program and are not eligible for SSDI ?I know that that was somewhere in the paperwork I got for SSDI.



joannla

Hi Mim:wave: ... I wasn't too disappointed when I was initially turned down... I appealed and got a lawyer but did'nt need him..The ALJ read my case and said they never even considered my case and awarded to be re-evaled in 08...My psyc test played a big part and my age 54 at the time helped..I turned it over to the Lord and also wrote my local congressman...They put a congressional inquiry on the case and it seems to give it a boot as I appealed in Sept. had and answer in Oct..and my backpay and first payment came in Dec...I pray it all works out for you..God Bless :angel:...Kim

No teachers pay into SS, trust me, most of my check went for FICA, my state tax, medicare, insurance, etc....lol. We don't usually have a 401 K, but what is called a 403 B, I think. Anyway, you can pay up to a certain max (there is a min of 6% I think) or your salary into the state retirement system as a state employee. If you become disabled and unable to do your job, you can apply for state retirement disability, I was finally approved 16 months after my latest head and neck injury. Although I still have not received benefits or pay from it since my school district STILL has not turned in the correct paperwork....sigh. But yes, we are eligible for SSD. SSI is not applicable as we will have income based upon a percentage of how much we have paid into the retirement plan. Not a lot, but better than nothing, or at least it will be when they finally start payment.

Thanks Kim, I am hanging in there and putting my trust with God. It is the only way I am able to hold it together! Appreciate the encouragement!
Mim Gregg